La Louisiane

December 5th marks the 85th anniversary of the Twenty-first Amendment, which repealed prohibition. It is a day to lift a glass and celebrate with good strong cocktail.

Today we offer you a great whiskey classic from the French Quarter in New Orleans. The La Louisiane cocktail began as the house cocktail of its namesake hotel (circa 1881). It is a drink that has been all but forgotten except for a handful of bars in the quarter. If you like Manhattans, this is a must try for you. It is best expressed with Rye whiskey but will adapt to Bourbon or Canadian as well. The assemblage is as follows:

La Louisiane

2 oz. rye whiskey

1⁄2 oz. sweet vermouth

1⁄4 oz. Benedictine

3 dashes Peychaud’s bitters

2 dashes absinthe (Pernod will do in a pinch)

Maraschino cherry, to garnish

Technique

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the rye with the vermouth, Benedictine, bitters, and absinthe. Stir and strain into a cocktail saucer and garnish with a cherry.